Roll Call

The House

By a 280-117 vote, the House authorized a $47.9-million budget (H Res 108) for some of its committee operations in 1987. This is an increase of nearly $4 million, or 9%, over the same authorization for 1986.

The $47.9 million will fund about half of the cost of the 27 House committees this year. This "investigations and studies" budget covers travel, consultants, investigations and miscellany, as well as salaries for nearly half of the approximately 2,000 committee employes.

Supporter William M. Thomas (R-Bakersfield) said the House has done "a remarkable job of trying to hold the line" in 1987 committee spending.

Opponent Robert S. Walker (R-Pa.) said it will take "about 1,300 American working families paying every dime in taxes" to raise the $4 million in additional committee spending.

Members voting yes wanted to spend 9% more this year on certain House committee operations.

By a 127-268 vote, the House rejected an attempt to freeze the 1987 authorization for certain committee operations at the 1986 level of $44 million. This occurred as the House debated a measure (H Res 108; above) setting its committee "investigations and expenditures" budget at nearly $48 million, up 9% over 1986. The vote was on a motion to send the budget back to the Administration Committee for trimming.

Freeze supporter Joel Hefley (R-Colo.) said it was wrong for the House to increase its committee spending by more than twice the rate of inflation.

The House voted 217-206 to enable states to raise the speed limit on rural interstates from 55 m.p.h. to 65 m.p.h. The resolution (H Con Res 77) was sent to the Senate. Although it potentially could legalize 65-m.p.h. driving on three-fourths of the 42,500-mile interstate system, its impact is uncertain because many states would retain the 55 m.p.h. limit.